Texas Ebola case had contact with children

The first confirmed case of Ebola in US had contact with children since returning to Texas from Liberia.

US health authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the patient had flown from Liberia to visit family in the US and had contact with children, who were now being monitored for any symptoms of the disease.

"Some school age children had contact with the patient and are now being monitored at home for signs of the disease," Texas Governor Rick Perry told reporters on Wednesday.

“This case is serious. Rest assured that our system is working as it should.

“Professionals on every level of the chain of command know what to do to minimize this potential risk to the people of Texas and this country,” continued Perry.

Health officials moved to quell fears that the virus could spread in the US, saying that Texas was perfectly-equipped to deal with the case.

“This is not West Africa, this is a very sophisticated city. This is a very sophisticated hospital," said Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

“We have the health care professional and the institutions that are second to none. The public should have every confidence that the highly trained professionals involved here will succeed in this very important mission.”

The first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in the US, presented himself at hospital on Friday but was initially sent home with antibiotics, his sister was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

She said that her brother had been sent home despite telling hospital staff that he had recently returned from an area affected by the Ebola outbreak.